The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

152 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN November, 1953 Other A.C.T. News Compiled by 'Middy* UNEMPLOYMENT: Members will be disturbed to note that our unemployed figure is rapidly rising. This includes all the grades employed on production. At the time of going to press there seems liittle likelihood of any improvement. WAGE NEGOTIATIONS: The Board of Trade's statistical survey for the second quarter of this year, which has just been published, shows that the exhibitors' share of box office receipts are up, and gross box office takings are higher than the corresponding period of last year. British Producers took 31 per cent of rental revenue in the first six months of 1953, as compared with 27.6 per cent in the whole of 1952. It would appear that the decline in numbers attending cinemas has been arrested, and the old bogey that cinema attendances are dropping and producers are receiving less no longer holds good. MINIMUM SOUND CREWS: It will be remembered that the General Council adopted a resolution which said that members of the Sound Section will not post sync or re-record dialogue scenes unless a sound crew of four, under the terms of Ihe Feature Agreement, were employed on the original scenes. Queries have arisen as to whether this applies to production within this country, whereby a second unit may proceed from a Studio to take dialogue scenes where dialogue is used, and the company concerned had four technicians of the Sound Department on the studio floor. We must emphasise the fact that the resolution stands by itself and in these cases it is up to the Producer to alter his schedule so that silent shooting can be carried on in the studio if it is necessary for the second unit to take dialogue scenes. CAMERA SECTION: The Camera Departmental Section will hold a General Meeting in the Hammer Theatre, Wardour Street, on Friday, 20th November, at 7.30 p.m. The Agenda: (1) Minutes; (2) Report from Record Committee; (3) Promotion within the Shorts and Documentary Sections; (4| Invited Comments on New Colour Processes; (5) Any Other Business. In connection with item No. 2 the committee request that all members who have not received application forms for the Record System will please apply to the Secretary of that committee, c/o Head Office. It is hoped that all camera members will make a special effort to attend. DUBBED FOREIGN FILMS: Most Continental countries forbid a dubbed foreign film to be shown in their own country unless it has been dubbed there. Until we have similar protection in this country A.C.T. will, as a matter of policy, insist that all dubbed films shown in Britain must be dubbed here. An embargo was placed on the processing of a number of films dubbed into English abroad. It is interesting to note that the work which was available to our members who were on dubbing of films into foreign languages is no longer available to them for the reasons mentioned. On the other hand, since 1952, some 17 foreign films have been dubbed into English abroad. It can, therefore, be seen that our members have lost work by reason of this. Therefore, to protect the livelihood of our members and to bring pressure to bear within this country we should have similar protection and the policy established by A.C.T. on this question remains. FILM JOBS ABROAD: There have been cases recently, writes Bert Craik, where members have taken up employment in Italy on non-British films. In all such cases, according to our information, insurance was not effected by the employing Company. In one case a member was laid low with a serious illness, resulting in a very heavy hospital bill which he is expected to pay. The point of all this is that A.C.T. has no control over our members' interests when they are working for a foreign company abroad unless the company has official representatives in the United Kingdom to whom we have been able to talk before contracts are signed. In all other cases we strongly advise members not to proceed abroad on such assignments until proper insurance has been taken out on their behalf and they have had sight of the policy. EVEREST SHOWING: The Hammer Theatre was besieged by A.C.T. members on Thursday, 5th November, when the Westminster Branch and the Technical Committee joined forces to show The Conquest of Everest — with Tom Stobart present to open a discussion on the film and answer questions afterwards. Next month, on Thursday, 3rd December, at 6.45 p.m., the Westminster Branch returns to its usual home, the Crown Theatre, Wardour Street, when a programme of films will be shown and the vintage Fred Astaire-Gingcr Rogers musical, Follow the Fleet will be featured. A.C.T. President. Anthony Asquith, presented trophies at F.I.S.A. Tennis Finals. Seen receiving awards are Miss V. Gauld and Mrs. B. Collar, both of Ilford Ltd.